Accessing room first day

[KSprite01]

Has anyone ever been let into their rooms early from the official time?  If so, is that a reasonable possibility or a complete unicorn dream?  Just trying to figure out how to juggle putting our toddler down for his nap.  Normally he naps 12-2PM, but we're not scheduled to get into the room until 1PM.  That would be ok, we could hold off on the nap - but the muster drill is 2:30PM so we'd have to wake him up from his nap early (and we'll pay for it about dinner time).  We're scratching our heads on what is best to do, because I don't know that he'll sleep in the stroller.

Edited January 9, 2019 by KSprite01

[Clarea]

You cannot get into the stateroom early.

 

If you are staying at a hotel, then I'd stay there until after 2pm.

[reallyitsmema]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

You cannot get into the stateroom early.

 

If you are staying at a hotel, then I'd stay there until after 2pm.

 

If they stay at there hotel until after 2pm, they will miss their sailing.  The Key might be an option as it gives early access to the cabin.  

[bilyclub]

You might be able to find a nice and quiet place onboard.   The show lounge would have couches but if the muster is at 2:30 it would start filling up with people getting seats for the muster.  2:30 is a strange time for a muster.

[reallyitsmema]

Just now, bilyclub said:

You might be able to find a nice and quiet place onboard.   The show lounge would have couches but if the muster is at 2:30 it would start filling up with people getting seats for the muster.  2:30 is a strange time for a muster.

 

Anthem sails at 3pm at this time of year, so muster is at 2:30pm.

[KSprite01]

7 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

If they stay at there hotel until after 2pm, they will miss their sailing.  The Key might be an option as it gives early access to the cabin.  

 

Yep, we sail early, at 3PM, so napping at the hotel is completely out.  (Not to mention hotels seem to have earlier and earlier checkouts, 10/11AM are most common now.)

 

We live 4.5 hours away, so we contemplated driving up the day before (and he'd nap early in the car we suspect), but ultimately decided that given the early sail time that was far too dicey to risk, particularly in the winter time.

Edited January 9, 2019 by KSprite01

[Grandma Dazzles]

Doubt that you will be able to access cabin before 1:00.

 

Kids can be more versatile than we sometimes think.  Perhaps try once in a while napping in the stroller prior to the cruise.  Not sure where you live or where you are cruising to but keep in mind that you might be faced with time zone changes. Perhaps just go with the flow!  Tough to keep a strict schedule on vacation. 

[reallyitsmema]

1 minute ago, KSprite01 said:

 

Yep, we sail early, at 3PM, so napping at the hotel is completely out.  (Not to mention hotels seem to have earlier and earlier checkouts, 10/11AM are most common now.)

 

Boarding will start anytime between 10:30 and 11.  What if you board as soon as you can, get lunch in and then try getting him to sleep in the stroller.  Maybe if you just keep walking and walking he will just crash.  Finding a quiet place is tough on day 1.  There are funky onion shaped chair beds in the Via but kids are all over them early on.  There are also rocking chairs in that area if you think you could rock him to sleep in a noisy area.  Casino will be closed, so you could try walking laps there with the stroller since it will be too cold to walk on deck.  Good luck!

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, KSprite01 said:

 

Yep, we sail early, at 3PM, so napping at the hotel is completely out.  (Not to mention hotels seem to have earlier and earlier checkouts, 10/11AM are most common now.)

 

We live 4.5 hours away, so we contemplated driving up the day before (and he'd nap early in the car we suspect), but ultimately decided that given the early sail time that was far too dicey to risk, particularly in the winter time.

 

Then drive around in the car until 1:30pm and hope the child can nap in the car.

[taglovestocruise]

19 minutes ago, KSprite01 said:

Has anyone ever been let into their rooms early from the official time?  If so, is that a reasonable possibility or a complete unicorn dream?  Just trying to figure out how to juggle putting our toddler down for his nap.  Normally he naps 12-2PM, but we're not scheduled to get into the room until 1PM.  That would be ok, we could hold off on the nap - but the muster drill is 2:30PM so we'd have to wake him up from his nap early (and we'll pay for it about dinner time).  We're scratching our heads on what is best to do, because I don't know that he'll sleep in the stroller.

Might try the kids club or the Royal Tots nursery.  Would probably be unattended and quite the first few hours after boarding. 

[cb at sea]

If he'll nap in a stroller, bring it, and you can find a quiet spot somewhere!

[KSprite01]

6 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Boarding will start anytime between 10:30 and 11.  What if you board as soon as you can, get lunch in and then try getting him to sleep in the stroller.  Maybe if you just keep walking and walking he will just crash.  Finding a quiet place is tough on day 1.  There are funky onion shaped chair beds in the Via but kids are all over them early on.  There are also rocking chairs in that area if you think you could rock him to sleep in a noisy area.  Casino will be closed, so you could try walking laps there with the stroller since it will be too cold to walk on deck.  Good luck! 

 

Good to know boarding is earlier.  (We though that might be the case, but good to have confirmation.)   

 

Are there any true smoke-free casinos on Anthem or are the smoke-free areas right next to the smoking ones?  On other ships/places I've found casino smoke to permeate the area, even when not crowded, so I'm bit leery about relying on that. If they're really smoke-free though that would be a good plan.

 

Is there a library onboard Anthem?  I've found the libraries to always be deserted so maybe that's another idea that could work. 

 

To Grandma Dazzles - we aren't trying to be uber strict about the schedule (in fact one option we're considering is to delay his nap by an hour, which in toddler time is ages!), but we find he does best keeping generally to his schedule.  Too far off and he'll refuse to sleep/get crazy hyper.  And then he's exhausted, we're exhausted, and our fellow passengers are annoyed and shooting us nasty glares.

[reallyitsmema]

Just now, KSprite01 said:

 

Good to know boarding is earlier.  (We though that might be the case, but good to have confirmation.)   

 

Are there any true smoke-free casinos on Anthem or are the smoke-free areas right next to the smoking ones?  On other ships/places I've found casino smoke to permeate the area, even when not crowded, so I'm bit leery about relying on that. If they're really smoke-free though that would be a good plan.

 

Is there a library onboard Anthem?  I've found the libraries to always be deserted so maybe that's another idea that could work. 

 

To Grandma Dazzles - we aren't trying to be uber strict about the schedule (in fact one option we're considering is to delay his nap by an hour, which in toddler time is ages!), but we find he does best keeping generally to his schedule.  Too far off and he'll refuse to sleep/get crazy hyper.  And then he's exhausted, we're exhausted, and our fellow passengers are annoyed and shooting us nasty glares.

 

Anthem's casino has a smoking and a non smoking side.  There is an area of the non smoking part that is not smoky at all, it is the area if you are coming from the Music Hall.  There is a library but it is in the upper level of 270, so it won't be totally quiet as you can hear music from below.  The other option is the indoor family pool area and the Solarium.  If you got him asleep, I don't think anyone would complain if you were in a quiet corner of the Solarium, though you never know, seeing the stroller might have some freak out in there.  He might just end up over stimulated with the whole place and be awake until muster.  I can't think of anywhere else to go that is quiet on first day.

[KSprite01]

Thanks for the ideas everyone!

[Bloodgem]

You could ask if you could sit in one of the empty dining rooms.